Wayward kicking costs Pies in Anzac clash

AFL: Collingwood's woeful kicking has seriously bitten it on the backside in its traditional Anzac Day clash against Essendon.

The Magpies fell 100-82 to the Bombers in another disappointing display in front of the goals, sending them down the ladder with their fourth loss in five weeks.

Essendon had the early jump on the Pies, rocketing ahead in the first quarter with two early goals to set the tone of the match.

Collingwood had a slight resurgence in the second quarter as their midfield began to outrun the Bombers, gifting goals to Alex Fasolo and Adam Treloar. Treloar broke a horror run of five behinds with an under-pressure goal in the dying seconds before half-time, but from there his side's accuracy faltered.

At the close of the third quarter, Collingwood kicked one goal and eight behinds from nine set kicks. In comparison, the Bombers kicked seven goals and five behinds in the same time frame.

Orazio Fantasia continued his outstanding run of form for the Dons with four goals, while midfielders Zach Merrett (33) and Jobe Watson (28) fired in the disposals department.

Fantasia booted a goal in every quarter, including the first major of the final term that kicked the Bombers out to a 14-point lead and started a run of three goals the Pies would be unable to claw back.

AFL legend Leigh Matthews said Fantasia's strength for his size set him apart from other small forwards.

"He's a really good player Fantasia, geez he's coming through," Matthews said on Channel Seven.

"He can get upfield and come through with the flight of the ball but as we see so often, when you've got the same kind of body size and shape against you, he's very good one on one."

To Collingwood's ruin, that effort was on show again and again, with Fantasia delivering a clutch performance to help seal the victory.

He ended his day with 18 disposals, four marks inside-50 and - most importantly - four goals.